Electric ignition apparatus



June 3,1930. w. H. HUTCHINS 1,761,015

ELECTRIC IGNITION APPARATUS Filed Oct. 6, 1926 g n I7 i Y I Patented June 3, 1930 UNETE STATES PATENT oFFicE Y 1 WILLIAM H. HUTGHINS, OF ROGHE$TEB, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO NORTH EAST APPLIANCE CORPORATION, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ELECTRIC IGNITION APPARATUS Application filed. October 6, 1926. Serial No. 139,895.

This invention relates to ignition apparatus of the type in which a cam-operated primary circuit breaker, and a secondary distributor are operated by a common drive- 5 shaft, and in which the cam-operated mechanism is mounted on a plate which may be turned about the axis of rotation of the cam, so as to vary the time of ignition.

One object of the invention is to produce mechanism of this type in which the primary circuit connection with the timer is made through a stationary binding post on the housing of the apparatus, while the movable or flexible connection between this binding post and the movable plate is enclosed and protected within the housing. Another object of the invention is to produce a simple, compact and rugged construction providing particularly for convenient assembly and disassembly, and for the housing and protection of the condenser commonly used with a circuit breaker.

To the foregoing ends the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the apparatus hereinafter described, as defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a sideelevation, in vertical section approximately in the median plane, of ignition apparatus embodying the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in ignition apparatus of the type commonly known as a magneto replacement, in which 5 the drive-shaftof the timer and distributor is journalled horizontally in a housing adapted to take the place of an ordinary magneto. The housing comprises two members 3 and l, the latter being provided with a ball-bearing 5 in which a cam-shaft 6 turns. The shaft 6 is driven, through gears 7 and 8, by a power shaft 9 which may be connected, in the usual manner, with the mechanism of the engine to which the ignition apparatus is applied.

The cam-shaft 6 carries, on its forward end, the usual rotor of the secondary distributor, also the cam 11 of the primary circuit controller. This cam co-operates in the usual manner with the pivoted arm 12 of the controller. The contact members of the controller are mounted upon a flat plate 13,

which has a circular body portion fitting peripherally within a circular recess in the housing member 4e. At the bottom of the plate an integral arm 14c extends through a recess 15 in the edge of the housing member 4, so that, through suitable connections, the arm may be swung manually to turn the plate through a limited angle around the axis of the cam 11, thus changing the time of ignition in a well known manner.

The plate 13 rests against a rearwardlyfacing shoulder 30 provided by the edge of a third housing member 16, which is secured by, screws 17 to the housing member 4, and the member 16 also encloses the members ofthe primary circuit controller. The usual cap or stationary member 29 of the distributor may be secured to the housing member 1-6, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The housing member 4 is provided, at the middle, with a forwardly projecting bear- 'ing boss 28, which fits an opening at the center of the plate and provides a bearing on which it turns, and a coiled spring 18 surrounds this hub and presses against the plate, which is thus held firmly inengagement with the shoulder 30. In this way the plate is retained frictionally against angular movement and prevented from becoming loose and rattling. i

A binding post 20 is mounted in the wall of the housing member 4, and through this binding post the primary circuit is connected with the primary circuit controller. The fixed contact-member 24E of the circuit controller is carried on a bracket 28, which is connected, through an insulated plate 22, with a terminal or binding post 19. This postextends through the plate 13 to the rear, and is there connected with a flexible wire 21, of which the outer end is connected with the binding post 20. In this way connection is maintained between the binding post 20 and the circuit controller regardless of the an gular movement of the plate 13, while at the same time the flexibleconnection isentirely enclosed within'the housing, so that only stationary circuit connections are exposed on the outside of the apparatus. The housing member 4 also provides space for a condenser 25, which is attached to the plate 13 by means of a bracket 26. WVhen the plate 13 is turned the condenser swings in the space beneath the boss 28. The condenser is connected with the terminal 19 by means of a wire 27. As the condenser and terminal move in unison, this wire need not be flexible.

Though I have described a flexible wire as the means for connecting the circuit controller with the binding ost 20, it will be apparent that other movable means may be used for this purpose and enclosed within the housing member 4.

In the specification and claims certain parts are described as being rearwardly and forwardly located or directed. These terms are used, however, merely as convenient terms of relation based upon the fact that the apparatus is illustrated with the cam shaft in horizontal position. It will be obvious that this absolute position of the parts is not essential, as the apparatus may be used with the axis of the' cam shaft in any convenient position;

The invention claimed is:

1. In ignition apparatus, the combination of a stationary housing-member, a cam-shaft journalled therein, a base-plate of generally circular form loosely fitted, at its periphery, within said housing-member and partially rotatable therein, said plate having a central aperture through which the cam-shaft passes, a cam, on the cam-shaft,-in front of the baseplate, a circuit-controller, actuated by said cam, mounted on the front of the base-plate, a second housing-member rcmovably attached to the first housing-member and enclosingsaid circuit-controller, said second-housing-member having a rearwardly disposed peripheral shoulder against which the baseplate rests,-and a spring, within the first housing-member, engaging the base-plate and pressing it constantly against said shoulder.

2. In ignition apparatus, the combination of a stationary housing-member, a cam-shaft ournalled therein, a second housing-member removably fixed to the front of the first housing-member, a base plate dividing the space enclosed by said housing-members and partially rotatable therein, said plate having a central aperture through which the camshaft passes, circuit-controlling means, mounted on the front of the base-plate. actuated by the cam-shaft, a condenser on the rear of the base-plate and movable, therewith, within the space enclosed by the first housing-member, a binding-post in the sidewall'of the first housing-member, and a movable connection, between the binding-post and the circuit-controlling means, enclosed within the first housing-member.

3. In ignition apparatus, the combination with separable housing-members cooperating to provide an enclosure, a shaft journalled in one of the members, a bearing provided by the other member, a cam on the shaft, a circuit controller operated by the cam, a base plate carrying the circuit controller and mounted on said bearing of the second mcn- 

